Full
marks go to Jonathon Glonek, MD Bangkok Fine Wine, Spencer Kells executive
chef of Sheraton Pattaya and Leigh Gilligan, winemaker from the Broken Hills
Estate.
Dr. Iain Corness
Broken Hills is an Australian label, using grapes from
all over the great sunburned land, and with their winemaker Leigh Gilligan
being available, the Sheraton Pattaya Resort took full advantage of this and
the Broken Hills Estate Wine Dinner was the result.
With the Sheraton’s executive chef, Spencer Kells, having
shown previously at a Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dinner that he was ready, the
event was scheduled for the end of May.
Michael
Delargy, GM of the Sheraton Pattaya welcomes the guests to what was to be an
excellent evening of fine wines and cuisine.
The GM of the Sheraton, Michael Delargy, welcomed the
guests and introduced Leigh Gilligan the winemaker from the Broken Hills
Estate. Leigh turned out to be an affable Aussie with 25 years experience in
the industry. In response to a question from one of the diners, he showed
his depth of knowledge ascertaining that the first vines into Australia came
with the First Fleet in 1788.
With his knowledge of the wines and the grapes and the
terroire in the different regions in Australia, he selects the grapes
and then makes the wines. The first two wines in the dinner were both from
the Adelaide Hills, as Leigh believes that this is the best region for white
wines.
The Bangkok Fine Wine’s MD Jonathon Glonek also spoke on
the Broken Hills Estate wines. His company has been handling small
family-owned wineries since 1994, such as Chateau Tahbilk, but it was
apparent that his wine business in Thailand would take as much Broken Hills
as they could get.
For many of the guests, the Broken Hills wines were well
known, being one of the most usual wines drunk at the Australian Chamber of
Commerce Thailand meetings, and current President John Anderson and his
vivacious wife were present, enjoying them again.
Spencer Kells’ first course featured a seared scallop
with a lobster truffle sauce, which was paired with an Amanda’s Brook
Sauvignon Blanc 2010. This was a very light wine to go with the delicate
flavour of the scallop.
The second course of crispy seared salmon bundles was
bundled together with a Margaret’s Bluff Chardonnay 2009. I enjoyed this
wine, which had a somewhat longer finish than the first white with the
previous course.
The third course had a braised shin of veal on a pea
risotto, a beautifully cooked veal, and washed down with a Bundie’s Patch
Shiraz 2007 this was another great combination, and I thoroughly enjoyed
this shiraz.
After a short breather, Spence Kells brought out what
many guests felt was the dish of the evening, being a roasted pigeon breast
wrapped in Parma ham with foie gras and creamed mushrooms. This was taken
with the second red, a Crombolo’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, also from
McLaren Vale in South Australia.
The final dessert course was taken with a Sandalford
Founders Reserve Port NV, and was one of those ports to linger over;
however, Jonathon Glonek did admit that this was not one from the Broken
Hills Estates.
The Sheraton has always dressed their service staff
immaculately, and this wine dinner was no exception, with the ladies in some
stunning evening dresses, while the charming Marcom executive, Tritra
Limpapath, was kept busy taking photographs.
Amongst the guests were Sam Armenio from Pizza Pizza and
Ranjith and Chitra Chandrasiri who had hopped over the wall from the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort.
It was an excellent evening and Leigh Gilligan expressed
the opinion that the combinations of wine and food were some of the best he
had tasted. We look forward to the next one.
Leigh Gilligan entertains
Catherine and Ted Smith (GM Thailand).
Jonathon Glonek welcomes
Chitra and Ranjith Chandrasiri,
president of the Royal Cliff Wine Club.
Mihai Cuza and the lovely
Penpapasorn Eamsa-ard Senior Sales Manager Sheraton Pattaya Resort enjoy a
glass of sparkles at sunset.
Just
what the doctors ordered, Somchai T.Shoke-satian, M.D. Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya and Narintara Boonjongcharoen, B Econ., M.D, Director Bangkok
Hospital Samui.
The sunset was absolutely stunning. (l-r) John Anderson, President of the
Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham), Dr. Iain Corness, Panida
Kaewpradit (McConnell Dowell Constructors Thai Ltd.), Michael Delargy
General Manager Sheraton Pattaya Resort, Napaporn Lohakam (Cat) and Sergio
(Sam) Armenio (Pizza Pizza Italian Bistro and Wine Bar).
Michael Delargy, Panida Kaewpradit,
John Anderson, Jonathon Glonek and Peter Malhotra (Pattaya Mail) toast to
goodwill and better friendships.
